Top Five Autumn Diving Escapes

As summer waves goodbye and autumn knocks on the door, one
question keeps popping to mind - how can we extend our sunshine
hours? Jet off on a luxury diving holiday, of course. So we've
complied our top five Autumn escapes for you to plan your next
vitamin D hit. Enjoy.

Mozambique

Made up of 32 islands that sprawl over roughly 70 miles of
Mozambique's coastline, you'll first witness the Quirimbas
Archipelago on your flight as white sugar sandbanks and emerald
islands emerge over the turquoise water. Where most of the islands
are uninhabited with thick mangrove forests, Azura at Quilálea invites
you to live the castaway lifestyle with luxury amenities (think:
personal Butler for your every whim). The island houses a superb
house reef, so you can explore the marine world straight from the
island's shores or at equally impressive dive sites a short boat
ride away. And the marine life really is magnificent: aside from
350 species of reef fish, you might spot dolphins, whale sharks and
the endangered Dugong. Visit in November and you'll have the chance
to see humpback whales and nesting turtles.

Gozo

Gozo is the jewel in the European
crown for diving, expect superb visibility (40+ metres), clear seas
and warm temperatures well in to October. The diving here is great
for all levels, whether it's your first dive or your 100th, you'll
visit some breath-taking topography: drift off giant walls,
penetrate deep caverns and glide through swim throughs. Oh, and
let's not forget the UNESCO World Heritage Blue Hole and
fascinating wartime wrecks. Out of the water, the island houses
some of the world's oldest and best preserved prehistoric sites -
not to mention idyllic hiking routes, picturesque villages and
golden beaches - more than enough to keep you occupied.

Oman

Orange sun, orange mountains, orange sand. Orange everywhere,
Oman envelops you like a cosy, warm
hug. Best visited between October and November when temperatures
are pleasantly warm (think Mediterranean summers), Oman is sparsely
populated and startlingly beautiful, both on land and underwater.
Stay in an Arabian oasis at Six Senses Zighy Bay,
where traditionally designed yet luxurious villas extend across a
pristine private beach against the towering Al Hajar Mountains.
Diving: expect to see the whole spectrum of marine life, from
triggerfish (by the thousand) to the whale shark, without the
crowds you'll find in its Red Sea counterpart.

Alor, Indonesia

Located in the heart of the Coral Triangle, Alor is often
overlooked in favour of its famous Indonesian counterparts Komodo
and Raja Ampat (which are also superb), resulting in Alor remaining
something of a hidden gem. An adventure itself to get to (you'll
need to spend a night in Bali), it's worth the journey - for Alor
has such fantastic and varied reefs you'll spend the majority of
your holiday underwater. Aside from vibrant coral reefs and big
fish sites, Alor also offers some of the best muck diving in
Indonesia. Better yet, black sand and volcanic slopes abound the
area, so you can spot these technicolour critters in all their
glory.

Costa Rica

Diving off the West Coast of Costa Rica is an adventure. Wilder
and cooler than its Caribbean counterpart, the nutrient-rich waters
attract so much marine life you'll feel like you've gate-crashed a
festival. Sites near the Peninsula
Papagayo are hotspots for the elusive seahorse and harlequin
crown shrimp, whilst further afield expect bull sharks. Continue
your wildlife extravaganza out of water at
Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo, where you can venture into the
surrounding dense jungle in search of howler monkeys and scarlet
macaws. The luxury resort is currently closed for a $35 million
renovation so add this to the pipeline for next Autumn's
adventure.

About Lizzie Shipley

Power Walker. Scuba Enthusiast. Food Fanatic. Lizzie handles the
Marketing for Original Diving.

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